Tom joined UES as a Graduate Ecologist in 2017 after completing a BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences and an MSc in Ecology and Conservation at Lancaster University. He is now a Senior Ecologist with nine years of consultancy experience. Alongside a wide range of ecological surveys, including protected species, botanical and habitat surveys, Tom prepares ecological reports, Biodiversity Net Gain assessments, Ecological Impact Assessments, ecological management plans and other planning documents. He also leads a small team of ecologists and carries out technical review and quality assurance of reports produced by colleagues and subcontractors.
Tom is a full member of CIEEM (MCIEEM) and has extensive experience surveying for protected species. He holds Natural England Level 2 bat and great crested newt survey licences, along with bat and great crested newt licences in Wales and Scotland.
Botany is Tom’s main area of interest. He holds a Level 6 Field Identification Skills Certificate (FISC) from the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) and is also a FISC assessor. Level six is only awarded in exceptional circumstances where the surveyor is a very competent professional field botanist and is of national status.
Tom is accredited to carry out River Condition Assessments using the Modular River Physical (MoRPh) survey method for Biodiversity Net Gain. He is also certified by the Freshwater Biological Association as competent in family-level freshwater invertebrate identification for biotic assessment.
Tom is a qualified NPTC Level 2 tree climber and undertakes aerial inspection surveys for bats. He holds a CSCS card and has completed training in asbestos awareness, National Water Safety Management and emergency first aid.